Thomas Fleckner
Obituaries
Vail Daily page A5 - June 21, 2001
West Vail man killed in fall from bar balcony--Was celebrating his 25th birthday with friends.
A young man who slipped and fell 30 feet while trying to leap from a balcony of a Vail Village bar died of massive head injuries Wednesday morning, the day after his birthday.
Thomas Fleckner, a native of Atlanta who lived in West Vail turned 25 Tuesday and was drinking with friends at the Tap Room, Vail police Sgt. Mike Warren said.
Fleckner had been in Vail all winter working as a food runner at Garfinkel's in Lionshead. Co-workers Wednesday were shocked by Fleckner's death, describing him as a social, upbeat and vibrant person.
"He was one of the most outgoing people you ever met," said Chris Lloyd, general manager at Garfinkel's. "He was one of those guys that when you saw him, you were always happy to see him."
Fleckner was in Garfinkel's with friends Tuesday night to begin celebrating his birthday. Staff at Garfinkel's said he wasn't drinking heavily.
Fleckner left Garfinkel's around 10:30 p.m. to go to Vail Village.
Shortly before 1 a.m. Wednesday, one of the friends Fleckner was with got thrown out of the Tap Room for drinking someone else's beer, Warren said.
Instead of leaving the bar through the front door, the ejected friend decided to leap about five feet from the balcony at the back of the Tap Room to a retaining wall, Warren said.
"The victim was coming out of the bathroom when his friend said, "Let's jump," Warren said.
Fleckner tried to follow but slipped off the balcony, spun around and cracked his head on the retaining wall while plunging 30 feet to the ground, where he landed on his head, Warren said.
Fleckner was rushed by Life Flight helicopter to Denver Health Medical Center. Beut he never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead at the Denver Health Medical Center at 9:13 a.m. Wednesday, Eagle County Coroner Donna barnes said.
He suffered a skull fracture and severe brain injuries, Barnes said.
"These aren't injuries you survive," she said.
Lloyd said Fleckner's death was especially tough on his co-workers because Garfinkel's has a tight-knit staff.
"As employees go, Garfinkel's is a very intimate place," he said. "When people get off work, they stay here. You get to know people here pretty well."
Vail Daily page A5 - June 21, 2001
West Vail man killed in fall from bar balcony--Was celebrating his 25th birthday with friends.
A young man who slipped and fell 30 feet while trying to leap from a balcony of a Vail Village bar died of massive head injuries Wednesday morning, the day after his birthday.
Thomas Fleckner, a native of Atlanta who lived in West Vail turned 25 Tuesday and was drinking with friends at the Tap Room, Vail police Sgt. Mike Warren said.
Fleckner had been in Vail all winter working as a food runner at Garfinkel's in Lionshead. Co-workers Wednesday were shocked by Fleckner's death, describing him as a social, upbeat and vibrant person.
"He was one of the most outgoing people you ever met," said Chris Lloyd, general manager at Garfinkel's. "He was one of those guys that when you saw him, you were always happy to see him."
Fleckner was in Garfinkel's with friends Tuesday night to begin celebrating his birthday. Staff at Garfinkel's said he wasn't drinking heavily.
Fleckner left Garfinkel's around 10:30 p.m. to go to Vail Village.
Shortly before 1 a.m. Wednesday, one of the friends Fleckner was with got thrown out of the Tap Room for drinking someone else's beer, Warren said.
Instead of leaving the bar through the front door, the ejected friend decided to leap about five feet from the balcony at the back of the Tap Room to a retaining wall, Warren said.
"The victim was coming out of the bathroom when his friend said, "Let's jump," Warren said.
Fleckner tried to follow but slipped off the balcony, spun around and cracked his head on the retaining wall while plunging 30 feet to the ground, where he landed on his head, Warren said.
Fleckner was rushed by Life Flight helicopter to Denver Health Medical Center. Beut he never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead at the Denver Health Medical Center at 9:13 a.m. Wednesday, Eagle County Coroner Donna barnes said.
He suffered a skull fracture and severe brain injuries, Barnes said.
"These aren't injuries you survive," she said.
Lloyd said Fleckner's death was especially tough on his co-workers because Garfinkel's has a tight-knit staff.
"As employees go, Garfinkel's is a very intimate place," he said. "When people get off work, they stay here. You get to know people here pretty well."
